After dismissal by Reds, Baker deserves a break

Updated 11:06 pm, Friday, October 4, 2013

Dusty Baker watches from the dugout in what turned out to be his last game as Reds manager, a wild-card loss to the Pirates.

Dusty Baker watches from the dugout in what turned out to be his last game as Reds manager, a wild-card loss to the Pirates.

Photo: Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press

After dismissal by Reds, Baker deserves a break

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

Dusty Bakermust wonder sometimes if there are supernatural forces at work - and if so, why they keep working against him.

Baker is the most well-rounded, interesting man in the managing profession - or at the very least, in a tie with Tampa Bay's Joe Maddon. He is beloved by his players. It would be nice if somewhere along the line, just one time, the fates would turn benign.

As Baker was fired Friday by the Cincinnati Reds, his latest ill-starred episode came to a close. I'll guarantee you there's some relief on his part. Baker resurrected the Reds' franchise, made that team relevant and compelling, only to be derided by small-minded fans and scolded by media types who should know better. Baker's wife, Melissa, and their 14-year-old son, Darren, are well aware of Cincinnati's oppressively abusive element and will anxiously look forward to better times.

Dusty will share their enthusiasm in that regard, but with a tinge of regret. He hates to leave a job unfinished - in his mind, that's always a world championship - and his history speaks to relentless heartbreak.

In his very first season on the job, his 1993 Giants won 103 games, only to finish second in the pre-wild-card era. That earned him the first of his three Manager of the Year awards during his time in San Francisco, alongside 1997 (swept by Florida in the Division Series) and 2000 (lost the NLDS in four games to the Mets).

That was relatively normal stuff; could happen to anyone. In 2002, the Giants had a 5-0 lead over the Angels in Game 6 of the World Series and were nine outs away from victory, only to watch their bullpen collapse in a bitter prelude to the Game 7 defeat.

Baker pulled a veritable miracle in 2003, becoming the only Cubs manager since 1908 to win a postseason series. The long-suffering franchise appeared to be on its way to the World Series until a fan named Steve Bartman - that would-be outfielder - intervened with a foul ball, casting a pall over the NLCS from which the Cubs could not recover.

Last year, Baker's Reds scored two impressive wins at AT&T Park to open the Division Series, then returned home to get swept by the Hunter Pence-inspired Giants. And now this: a loss to Pittsburgh in the winner-take-all wild-card game, and another set of walking papers.

Baker has his flaws, as does any manager. Lord knows he's been drenched in humility, an essential quality in his profession. He knows what it's like to bounce back from a real-life crisis, successfully pursuing his career in the wake of prostate-cancer surgery. And he remains recognized as a players' manager, someone who can ignite a spark and, more often than not, wind up in the postseason.

The Washington Nationals could use a man like that. The job is wide open with the retirement of Davey Johnson. The Dodgers appear to be set with Don Mattingly, but Mike Sciosciais hardly on solid ground in Anaheim, and that would bring Baker and his family closer to his Northern California home (Granite Bay). Or maybe the road ends here. He's not about to take a year off; he told USA Today, "I am not retiring. I feel better now than I did a year ago at this time. Things happen for a reason, who knows? All I know is that I'm not done yet."

One can only wish him the sweetest of winters. He has found autumn to be the cruelest season of all.

A little help

Sidelight to the bad news in Oklahoma City, where Russell Westbrookwill need a second surgery on his right knee and miss up to two months of the season: The Warriors play two of their three games against the Thunder during November. A couple of stolen wins could make a huge difference later on ... Thanks to the Red Sox's David Ortizfor shooting down a ridiculous story that got far too much play last season: that last September's collapse was due partly to the players' feasting on chicken and beer in the clubhouse. "All that beer and chicken bull-?" Ortiz told reporters. "Well, we have chicken and beer whenever we want now, and look how it's going." ... The 49ers' Donte Whitnerspeaks the truth about rules changes in the NFL: "This is a game for grown men. We all know that. You don't want to be physical, don't want to be hit, don't come around guys that like to hit." But announcing that he will legally change his name to "Hitner" - bad move. The Seattle Seahawks are loving this, and when you become a target in the NFL (remember Fred "The Hammer" Williamson?), it doesn't matter how tough you are. You might wind up with another new name that rhymes ... Sonny Dykes coaching against Jeff Tedford? Fox Sports reported that USC contacted Tedford to serve as an offensive consultant and recruiter. He reportedly declined, but said he'd be interested in the head-coaching job for next season ... Two great lines from Stanford coach David Shaw, a man in demand: Regarding being on USC's "short list" to replace Lane Kiffin, he told the San Jose Mercury News, "It might be short, but it's one person too long." As for being tempted by the NFL: "You tell me which NFL city is better than Palo Alto. And then explain that to my wife."

Latest from the SFGATE homepage:

Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.